Game 5: Flyers' Van Riemsdyk aims to get some ice time

By ROB PARENT

Thursday, April 19, 2012

VOORHEES, N.J. -- It's not like James van Riemsdyk is going to gallop -- or hobble -- back into action tonight in Pittsburgh like an overdue cavalry hero.

Van Riemsdyk, the energetic Flyers forward who said Thursday he's ready to test his healing left foot in a game, hasn't played since March 1, when he suffered a fracture while blocking a shot. For starters, the best van Riemsdyk could be expected to offer would be some needed speed and skill to the Flyers' fourth line in place of penalty-prone Zac Rinaldo, and maybe an extra hand on the Flyers' second power-play unit.

Every little bit helps, of course, even if it means van Riemsdyk would be coming back a little sooner than anticipated. Of course, two days after a 10-3 loss to the reborn Penguins, isn't that enough?

"Another offensive weapon," Danny Briere said of the possible van Riemsdyk return for Game 5 tonight at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, where the Penguins face a second match point. "That'd be a great boost to the offense. But for us, it's keeping our composure, staying out of the (penalty) box and limiting their chances -- that's how we're going to beat them."

As he's shown, van Riemsdyk could block a few Penguins shots, too. The Flyers could use that, since one of their best shot blockers, defenseman Nick Grossmann, is out with an upper-body injury that may be a concussion. He'll likely be replaced by either of two rookies, Erik Gustafsson or Brandon Manning.

If van Riemsdyk sticks a tentative toe into action tonight, however, it will be encased in a clear plastic shell that fits atop the skate boot to protect the foot.

"I don't mind it too much," said van Riemsdyk, who was expected back by the start of a second round. "It's not ideal, but if that's what it's going to take to get me on the ice, I'll gladly wear it.

"Any game, you want to be out there helping the team. Obviously, (Wednesday) night wasn't the result we wanted, but it's a long series. They have a great team over there and you have to think that they weren't going to roll over and die. They definitely showed some character. It was a big win for them but now you turn the page and get ready for the next game."

That's what van Riemsdyk is telling himself -- to get ready right away -- although coach Peter Laviolette did not commit to enlisting him for the game.

"He's looked better every day, and at some point I guess we'll make that decision," Laviolette said. "Through discussions with everybody involved, if he's ready to play we'll consider playing him."

Judging by van Riemsdyk's upbeat attitude, you get the idea he thinks playing is a possibility.

"It's always a fun time of year to play and it sucks to be watching from the sidelines," he said. "You want to be out there and do what you can to help. The team has done a great job so far and the hardest win is yet to come."

Goalie Ilya Bryzgalov has looked anything but solid against the Penguins this series, surpassing the daily bad performances of Marc-Andre Fleury Wednesday night in allowing five goals in just a little more than a period of Game 4. But with the Flyers up three games to one, Bryzgalov will get another chance to get the Flyers into the second round.

Briere pointed out Bryzgalov "gave us a chance to win in the first three games, so there's no reason not to be comfortable with him."

What's more, it is generally acknowledged that what really spelled doom for the Flyers Thursday night was their insistence on taking penalties and not killing them.

"We have to have a more balanced attack, really limit their chances and try to stay out of the penalty box," defenseman Matt Carle said. "If we shore that up and play a strong five-man defensive game, we'll be fine."

Without Grossmann, that's a tall challenge for the Flyers. Their defense and their shaky goalie will need outstanding checking and backchecking efforts from all forward lines.

"They were skating better than we did and we had to take penalties," Jaromir Jagr said. "And we're a very good skating team."

Aside from that, there are other areas the Flyers have to be better in, as Scott Hartnell illustrated when asked what he thinks it takes to beat the Penguins one more time.

"Good goaltending, discipline and a power play that continues scoring goals," he said. "If we have those three things, hopefully we'll come out on top."

NOTES: No penalty from the league office Thursday for Rinaldo, despite his cross-checking assault act on the Penguins' Zbynek Michalek while the Flyers were down 9-3 in Game 4. Rinaldo received a double-minor for cross-checking and roughing, along with misconducts that totaled 24 penalty minutes.

"I didn't expect any suspension," Rinaldo said. "I had built-up frustration from a 9-3 deficit; it happens in hockey. I don't regret what I did. I wear my heart on my sleeve." ... Hartnell, describing a series in which 44 goals, hundreds of penalty minutes and three suspensions have been served in four games: "Seems like every game has a little bit of weirdness to it. ... It's usually tight checking, defense and that kind of stuff in the playoffs. But 8-5, 8-4 and 10-3 scores in these games is ridiculous. I don't know what's going on."